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Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) tries to pass over leaping Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Larry Foote (50) in the second quarter during an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)FR87040 AP

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers' power running game is back, and it's coming from an unlikely source.

Backup Jonathan Dwyer's second 100-yard rushing game in a row Sunday helped deliver a second straight win for the first time this season, 27-12 over the Washington Redskins.

Although Dwyer didn't find the end zone, he gained 107 yards on 17 carries, ripped off a 34-yard gain to set up a field goal and kept the sticks moving to help the Steelers run up a 61/2-minute edge in time of possession.

"He runs hard," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said of Dwyer, who has rushed for 100 yards three times in his first 13 NFL games. "We know when we put the ball in his hands he's going to give you everything he's got. He brings a little bit of power and a little bit of quickness."

Roethlisberger has been a beneficiary of the rejuvenated running game. In the three games in which the Steelers have rushed for at least 100 yards, he's been sacked only four times and the Steelers are 3-0.

In the four games in which they failed to rush for 100 yards, he's been sacked 10 times and they are 1-3.

"I like the direction we're headed," said coach Mike Tomlin, who said Dwyer's production should come as no real surprise to those who followed the third-year back's college career.

"The guy went over 1,500 yards in his last two years at Georgia Tech," Tomlin said. "He was the ACC player of the year. He's not foreign to running the football."

Neither are the Steelers, although they ranked dead-last in the league in rushing after three weeks this season and were sitting at 1-2.

While the offensive line has been a revolving door again this season, the unit gained some needed stability Sunday with the return of All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey and the Steelers have crept up to 21st in the league in rushing.

"They did a good job," said Dwyer, who leads the Steelers with 299 yards on 58 attempts and is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. "They made my job easier. I was just going off how they were playing, and they were playing physical so I brought my physicality to the game as well."

Mendenhall appears to be getting closer to returning from an Achilles injury that has sidelined him since the Week 6 loss at Tennessee. But he could have a tough time supplanting the 5-foot 11-inch, 229-pound Dwyer, whose combination of speed and power could be enough to keep him in the lineup even when Mendenhall becomes healthy.

Tomlin wouldn't entertain questions Sunday about how he'll handle playing time when Mendenhall returns, but he made it clear Dwyer has been everything the Steelers hoped.

"He's answered the call and taken advantage of an opportunity and that's what we expect from all our young people," Tomlin said.

Guard Willie Colon said Dwyer has done a good job of reading his keys and hitting seams in the Steelers' zone blocking schemes, and he's been tough enough to break tackles when necessary.

"He puts his head down and gets it going," Colon said.

And when he's done that, the Steelers have gotten going, too.

JOHN DUDLEY can be reached at 870-1677 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNdudley.